C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000617
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, NEA/IR, AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016
TAGS: KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL IR AM
SUBJECT: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - FOLLOW UP ON CANDIDACY
OF IRAN
REF: A) STATE 68575 B) STATE 66050 C) YEREVAN 599
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
¶1. (C) In separate meetings on May 1 and 2, the Ambassador
and DCM raised demarche points on Iran's candidacy for the UN
Human Rights Council with Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakossian (May 1) and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen
Baiburtian (May 2). Kirakossian told the Ambassador that
Armenia had not yet determined how it would vote in the May 9
elections. Baiburtian told the DCM that the GOAM "takes very
seriously U.S. Government concerns," and that Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian would make a final decision upon his
return from Vilnius May 5.
¶2. (C) On May 3, Armenian MFA International Organizations
Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan told poloff that Armenia
would almost certainly not support Iran's candidacy, even
though it would "certainly jeopardize" Armenia's "own
aspirations" for the council. "Before you report that to
Washington though," Mkrtumyan said, "let me check with the
Foreign Minister when he returns from Vilnius."
EVANS